John Topinos

Source Citation:
Year: 1921; Arrival: New York, New York, USA; Microfilm Serial: T715, 1897-1957; Line: 15; Page Number: 16

The National Archives at Philadelphia; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; NAI Title: Declarations of Intention for Citizenship, 1/19/1842 - 10/29/1959; NAI Number: 4713410; Record Group Title: Records of District Courts of the United States, 1685-2009; Record Group Number: 21

The National Archives and Records Administration; Washington, D.C.; Petitions for Naturalization from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, 1897-1944; Series: M1972; Roll: 592

Year: 1936; Arrival: New York, New York, USA; Microfilm Serial: T715, 1897-1957; Line: 15; Page Number: 68

The National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Record Group Title: Records of the Selective Service System; Record Group Number: 147

     John Basil Tapenos was born in Skopos (a town that was once part of Greece but now lies within the Turkish border) on the 5th of September 1894.  His given name is "Ioannis Tapinos" (Ioannis is a greek variant of "John" and a common name in Greece).

John left Greece in 1921 aboard the ship S.S. King Alexander bound for New York, leaving behind his father, Vassilios.  

In 1929, John became a citizen of the United States and sometime later traveled back to Greece, returning to the United States in 1936.

When John registered for the WWII Draft in 1942, he stated that he worked at his own restaurant which was located in Brooklyn.  He was 48 years old.  He is described as being 5 feet 6 inches tall with hazel eyes, gray hair, and a light complexion.

John Basil Tapenos died on the 25th of September 1981 and was buried on Hart Island on the 18th of October 1981.